BECOMING A PENNSYLVANIA CERTIFIED PARALEGAL (Pa.C.P.)

1. Applicant must be a legal resident of the United States of America; and
2. Applicant must satisfy one of the criteria set forth under Educational Requirements; and
3. All years of substantive paralegal experience under Educational Requirements shall be consecutive; and
4. Applicant must submit a declaration from an attorney in good standing with the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania who will attest to his/her direct knowledge of the Applicant's skill level and his/her work as a Paralegal; and
5. Applicant must be currently employed as a Paralegal pursuant to the definition established and approved by the Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations. 

1. Bachelor's Degree in Paralegal Studies from an ABA-approved Paralegal Program AND one (1) year of substantive Paralegal experience; OR 
2. Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from an accredited institution AND a Certificate/Associate's Degree from an ABA-approved Paralegal Program AND one (1) year of substantive Paralegal experience; OR 
3. Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from an accredited institution AND three (3) years of substantive Paralegal experience; OR 
4. Associate's Degree in Paralegal Studies from a Paralegal Program AND five (5) years of substantive Paralegal experience; OR 
5. Certificate from a Paralegal Program AND five (5) years of substantive Paralegal experience; OR 
6. Designation of CLA, CP or RP AND two (2) years of substantive Paralegal experience. 

• For members of a Keystone Alliance Member Association:  Fifty Dollars ($50.00) non-refundable application processing fee for initial two (2) year period. Twenty-Five Dollars ($25.00) non-refundable renewal application processing fee for each renewal period of two (2) years. 
• For individual applicants not affiliated with a Keystone Alliance Member Association: Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) non-refundable application processing fee for initial two (2) year period. One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) non-refundable renewal application processing fee for each renewal period of two (2) years.
• Fees subject to change at the discretion of the Keystone Alliance.

• The Application for Certification must be submitted along with the supporting documentation and required fee, all in accordance with the complete instructions more fully set forth in the application form.
• The Credentialing Committee will determine within thirty (30) days whether the Applicant meets the requirements for certification as established by the Keystone Alliance. 
• Applicants will receive notification of the Credentialing Committee's determination via letter from the Keystone Alliance Chairperson. 

• The Pa.C.P. Credential is approved for a period of two (2) years beginning with the Pa.C.P.'s approval date and ending two years hence on the anniversary date (Certification Period). During the Certification Period, the Pa.C.P. is required to obtain a minimum of 12 CLE credits (10 substantive, 2 ethics) in order to maintain standing as a Pa.C.P.  Prior to the expiration of the Certification Period, the Pa.C.P. must submit an Application for Renewal as set forth below. 
• The Pa.C.P. is solely responsible for tracking CLE's obtained during the Certification Period, for maintaining accurate and appropriate documentation of the said CLE's as set forth below in the section for CLE Requirements and for submitting the Application for Renewal in a timely fashion.
• A CLE Reporting Form is available on the FORMS AND DOCUMENTS page and should be utilized by the Pa.C.P. for purposes of tracking CLE's throughout the two-year Certification Period.

• Applications for Renewal must be submitted no sooner than sixty (60) days prior to the Pa.C.P.'s anniversary date at the end of each two-year Certification Period. 
• CLE credits applied toward renewal must fall within the two-year period between the Pa.C.P.'s last approval date and the anniversary date, i.e., within the Certification Period. 
• The Application for Renewal is available on the FORMS AND DOCUMENTS page and must be submitted along with the supporting documentation and required fee, all in accordance with the complete instructions more fully set forth in the application form.  

• Courses/seminars offered by the Pennsylvania Bar Association or any bar association; 
• Courses/seminars offered by approved national or state law-related organizations (e.g., American Trial Lawyers Association, Pennsylvania Association for Justice, etc.); 
• Courses/seminars offered by any national or state paralegal association; 
• Courses/seminars, including college courses with a passing grade of B or better, offered by any accredited educational institution or organization; 
• Courses/seminars offered by professional education providers (e.g., Institute for Paralegal Education, Mealey's (via Lexis/Nexis), West LegalEdcenter (via Thomson West), etc.); 
• Courses/seminars offered by any federal/state regulatory or governmental authority; 
• Courses/seminars/programs offered in-house by the applicant's firm, corporation or employer; 
• Self study programs provided by any of the entities listed hereinabove which are available on audio and/or videotape and have supporting written materials; and which are taken at the paralegal's own pace without direct supervision or attendance in a classroom and include a final examination of at least 10 questions; 
• Teaching, speaking or guest lecturing at a seminar or course. The subject must be on substantive law or issues, or must be oriented to the specific nature of the paralegal profession and be relevant to employed paralegals and/or paralegal students. 
• Authoring an article or publication. The subject must be on substantive law or issues, or must be oriented to the specific nature of the paralegal profession and be relevant to employed paralegals and/or paralegal students.

• a description of the seminar topic and an outline of the presentation*; 
• a copy of each speaker's bio or resume which indicates his or her relevant qualifications; 
• for conferences which feature multiple breakout sessions, a copy of the seminar brochure or agenda which provides a detailed timeline of each segment of the conference including lunch and breaks; and 
• a copy of your proof of attendance** which indicates the number of hours attended.

• a copy of the course title and description;
• a list of faculty names and credentials;
• the course syllabus;
• for ethics credits based upon an ethical component of the course, proof of the time dedicated to ethics (this may be indicated in the course syllabus, or the Pa.C.P. may need to obtain additional documentation including but not limited to a signed statement from the instructor);
• a copy of your final grade (a passing grade of B or better is required in order to obtain CLE credit).

• a copy of the promotional brochure; 
• the course outline; 
• a list of faculty names and credentials; 
• sample exam questions; 
• a copy of your final test score indicating a grade of B or better; and 
• the certificate of completion. 

• listening and/or viewing time for audio, video, CD, DVD and/or on-line mediums; 
• written materials including books and seminar manuals which will be assessed at 50 pages per hour; and
• the test score on the final examination.

• a copy of the course advertisement or seminar brochure; 
• a description of the seminar topic, including areas of substantive law or professional issues to be presented; or a copy of the seminar outline or agenda; 
• a copy of the speaker's resume or description of the speaker's relevant qualifications; 
• if offered, the number of credits available to attendees; and 
• number of hours/minutes of the engagement.  

• the article(s) for consideration; 
• proof the article was published; and 
• the date of publication.